Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-04-06
Prosperity in Georgia.
ROME HAS A LARGE sHARE-A PRETTY
cIrY-ITs NDUsTRIRs-sCHOoLs-RAIL-
ROADS AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
Correspondence of the spKcrAToR.l

Correspondence of the SPEcTAToR.]
ROME, Ga, March 90, 1887.
Business brought me here, and found
the city on boom. To me it was some
thing different than had ever seen before.
and if your space is not full, perhaps a
short letter might interest your readers.
Now the idea of boom to me has always
been trying to make something out Of
nothing, building town on paper or in the
mind of an active real-estate agent. But
not so with Rome. Here the stranger is
greeted with city Of 1900, with beauti-
full streets, fine stores and residences, and
the busy hum of manufacturing establish
ments already producing nearly 81, 500, 600
per year, and giving employment to over
500 persons. The Wholesale trade amounted
last year to S., 900, 900, and the retail trade
to 81, 900, 600. Over 100,0 600 bales of cot
ton were purchased here, $1,000 Of which
was shipped to the New England mills.
Churches, schools and civilization are
here. Two flourishing female colleges or
the public schools, which are second to
none in the South, offer ample opportunities
Rome's population Tor 1900 scholarly are
enrolled in these schools. Could l say
more in favor of the town?
Five railroad lines center here, and ~
soon as the shoals are removed from the
Coosa River, Rome will have direct river
communication with the Gulf Of Mexico,
and, besides, there are two now railroads
nearly completed. So you see there is no
end to the means of bringing raw material
and freight here and carrying away the
manufactured products to any point Of the
| compass.
But what about the booms It is here,
that is sure. The hotels are full real
estate agents are on almost every square
Land is bought and resold the next day at
a profit. Last Saturday gentleman who
owns lot near town offered it to specu-
later. and while he waited An hour to de-
| for $50, $75 and 5000 to be offered for your
bargains This is making money rapidly.
could enumerate many instances, If space
would permit.
The organization of the Rome Land and
Improvement Company was the handspring
that set this ball in motion. This company
was organized On the End of March, and its
stock is now worth $3.50, and but little in
the market. This company is controlled
by representative business men Of Rome,
and to them the town owes much for its
present prosperity. They control several
Thousand acres Of land near town, aud
about so, 900 acres of mineral lands on the
line of the railroads centering here. Thus
far they have not sold any Of their lands
but they have been very liberal in sdvsrtis-
ing the town and inducing manufacturing
establishments to locate here. They offer
free building rites for new industries To-
eating here and they will also take stock
| when SO desired
| Now will this boom last We think it
will, for with a healthy climate, where the
cold Of winter is not severe, nor the heat of
summer excessive, where June air prevails
and good water is in abundance where
raw materials of all kinds are at its very
door; with transportation lines to the four
points Of the compass, Rome must grow
Perhaps she may not rival New York or
Philadelphia, but her population in the
next ten years will be more than doubled.
The Southern States are increasing in
wealth end population each year. And if
Rome's public.spirited citizens have taken
the tide at its flood and are riding on to
fortune, who will stand by and say nays
Elk. ED.